Grain-binder



STEWARD. GRAIN DER.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets- 1- Patented July 2, 1889.-

y mu 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, (No Model.)

J. F. STEWARD.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 406.374. Patented July 2, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

JOHN F. STEIVARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 406,374, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed October 25, 1886. Serial No. 217,184. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. STEWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

At the present day grain-bindin g machines are commonly provided along the forward ends of the grain-table or binder-table with an obliquely-arranged board to act upon the butts of the grain and adjust the same endwise on the table as may be required, these boards being in many places adapted to assist also in moving the butts of the grain laterally. These butt-boards have heretofore been mounted and operated in various ways. In some cases they have been. mounted at the receiving ends on a revolving crank and sustained atthe delivery end by a straight guide, or in other cases they have been carried at the two ends by pivoted vibrating links, so as to swing bodily in the arc of a circle or in an irregular curved path.

The aim of my invention is to render these boards more effective and secure the required adjustment of the grain both endwise and laterally; and to this end it consists in an improved manner of constructing and mounting the board, in improved means for imparting motion thereto, and in a combination of the board, through intermediate connecting mechanism, with the ordinary circulatory packers, so that the packers and the board co-operate in advancing the grain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the delivery end of a harvester, together with the grain-table, the packers, and my adjusting devices applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of the adjusting mechanism and adjacent parts, looking from the grain side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said part-s. Figs. 4 to 14 are views of various details hereinafter explained. Fig. 15 is a front elevation showing a modified form of the devices for imparting motion to the board. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively an end view and a perspective view showing another modification of the board-operating devices. Fig. 18 is a perspectiveview of another modification. Fig. 19 is a View illustrating the driving-crank in one of its forms.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the elevator-frame of a harvester, having the usual top cross-bar A, containing horizontal rolls A A which carry the upper ends of the usual elevator-aprons, by which the grain is delivered to the binding-table. These parts, which may be of any ordinary construction, are common in the art. Below and beyond the elevator is the usual inclined grain-supporting surface a, variously known in the art as the grain-table, the binder-table, and the grain-chute, and upon which the grain will be bound in the ordinary manner by a suitable binding mechanism. These parts may be in all respects of ordinary construction and arrangement.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a butt-board which lies along or across the forward edge of the table, and it is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally in a line parallel with its face, and also to vibrate in a direction at right angles to its face, or, in other words, in the direction of the length of the grain. I combine with this board suitable supporting mechanism for imparting to it the peculiar motions above described}, These devices may be variously constructed in forms which are mechanical equivalents, and a few of which are hereinafter described in detail.

I prefer the construction represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which D represents a fiat butt board or plate provided at its upper end with ears D, which encircle a supporting and guiding rod B with rollers D D in their upper ends to bear upon the rod and reduce the friction. The construction and arrangement are such that the board may reciprocate endwise of the rod in a line parallel with its own face, and that it may also swing to and fro beneath the rod in the direction of the length of the grain. I

The guide-rod B has its upper end turned upward to form a journal or axis, which is mounted in an arm or bracket B, bolted to the top of the elevator-frame, this arrangement permitting the arm to be adjusted horizontally in order to change its angle to the edge of the table and thereby change the angle at which the butt-board reciprocates and around their the extent to which it moves the grain end- Wise on the table. Thelower end of the buttboard is curved or bent forward toward the grain-space and provided with a vertical row or series of teeth or serrations D which are designed to pass between and engage the grain-stalks to carry the same toward the delivery edge of the table with a positive motion, after the manner of a packing mechanism, and to assist the ordinarypackers in their work. Meansof suit-able character will be provided to fix the guide-rod in the position to which it may be adjusted. As shown in the drawings,. the lower end of the rod is turn ed downward, forming a journal or hingepin, which receives and carries one end of a butt-retaining plate C. This plate has a Hat surface and forms in effect a stationary continuation of the butt-board to prevent the grain from shifting forward on the table after it is properly adjusted and to protect the butts from the effect of the wind. I recommend curling or folding the end of the plate into tubular form, as shown at O, to receive the supporting-journal; but this hinge-joint may be constructed in any equivalent manner. To the plate C, I secure rigidly one end of a bar G which is extended thence rearward and upward through a guide C on the harvester-frame to a point within convenient reach of the driver, who is thus enabled, by moving the bar, to adjust the plate 0 forward and backward, and in so doing to change the angle of the guide B and the path of the butt board or plate to correspond.

The bar G is provided with notches C to engage the guide, whereby it is locked in po sition and caused to hold the plate (3 in place. The bar (l serves also to hold the plate C all times in a position substantially parallel with the forward edge of the binding-table. This feature is not in itself claimed as a part of my present invention.

For the purpose of imparting to the buttboard the longitudinal reciprocation and the lateral vibration around its guide as a center, I provide the journal of the elevator-roll A with a crank A", the wrist of which stands oblique to the axis of the roll, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. On this wrist I mount closely at box or hearing F, which is also perforated at right angles to the wrist of the crank to receive a wrist formed transy ersely on one end of a pitman G. This pitman is provided at the opposite end with a second wrist, also at right angles to its length,which isinserted through the bearing E, provided, as shown in Fig. at, with a threaded journal or pivot, which is passed through the buttboard to its lower forward corner and secured by a nut. The wrists of the pitman and the crank are fitted snugly in their bearings, so that they have no motion other than that axes. As the crank is revolved, it moves the .pitman endwisc, and the pitman in turn reciprocates the butt-board I) endwise along the guide 15 the entire board moving bodily in a line parallel with its face. Owing to the obliquityof the crank-wrist and the closeness of the several bearings, the pitman J receives, in addition to its longitudinal motion, a torsional motion, or motion around its longitudinal axis, whereby it is caused to vibrate the board 1) forward and backward to and from the ends of the grain around the guide-rod B as an axis.

As will be apparent to any person of intelligence, the pitman acts to swing or vibrate the board toward the butts of the grain asit moves endwise toward the delivery edge of the table, and on the other hand acts to swing it backward from the grain toward the front of the machine during the time that it is moving endwise toward the elevator. As the buttboard swings toward the grain, its inwardly-projecting teeth I) are driven forcibly between and engage firmly against the grain-stalks at the butt, and as the board is held forward against the grain during its endwise movement the teeth thus engaged carry the grain downward toward the delivery edge of the table. Midway between the front and rear edges of the table, or thereabout, I provide the usual circulatory alternately-acting packers I), which act in an upward direction through the table for the purpose of forcing the grain downward in compact form into the binder and against the compressor. These arms are supported at their lower ends by links, and are operated by cranks oppositely projected from the horizontal shaft 0. As shown, they are in all to spects identical with what are known in the art as Appleby packers, known and. understood by every person familiar with the art. In order that the teeth I) of my butt-board may eo-operate with these oldpackers in properly advancing the grain, I connect the packerdriving mechanism and the mechanism which moves my butt-board by intermediate mechanism timed' or proportioned so that the packers and the bu tt-board advance against the grain simultaneously. In other words, I so time the parts that as each packer advan ees against the middle of the grain at the same time the teeth D of the butt-board act against the butts to advance the same toward the delivcry edge of the table. In the form shown this connecting mechanism consists simply of a chain 6, extended from the usual sprocketwheel (Z on the packershaft to a suitablyproportioned sprocket-wheel A on the roll which carries the crank foroperating. the butt-board. The precise form of these connections is not material, and isnot of the essence of the invention.

lVhen the particular connecting mechanism shown in the drawings is used, the crank A should make two rotations during each rotation of the packer-shaft, and of course the chain-pulleys will be proportioned accordingly. As the essence of the invention resides in having the packer and the end teeth of the butt-board advance against the ITO grain at the same time, it is obvious that good results may be obtained by so timing the parts that the toothed board will advance in unison with the alternate strokes of the packers; but of .course the best results are obtained when each stroke of a packer is accompanied by a stroke of the board.

In order that the lateral vibration of the butt-board may be varied in extent, the driving-crank may be constructed in such manner as to permit the angle of its wrist in relation to the axis to be varied at will. A simple construction to this end is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, in which the end of the crank is divided and socketed to receive the spherical end X of the wrist-pin, and provided with a contracting screw X One side of the socketed end may be pivoted to the other portion, as shown at X Fig. 12, to facilitate the adjustment.

Instead of relying upon the torsional action of the pitman G to effect the vibration of the butt-board, additional or substitute devices may be provided to this end.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a simple contrivance for the purpose, consisting of a link K, loosely jointed or swiveled at one end by a sleeve K to the pitman G, and loosely connected at the opposite end by a swivel K to the butt-board. The board, pitman, and crank occupy the relative positions shown in the preceding figures. As the crank turns upward and forward in the direction indicated by the arrow, the pitman G, lifting the outer end of the link K, causes the board to swing toward the butts of the grain while advancing endwise. During the retreat of the pitman the link draws the board away from the grain. In this form of the device it is immaterial whether the wrist of the crank is oblique to its axis or not, and also immaterial whether the several parts are closely fitted in the joints.

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown still another modification. The butt-board, its guide, the pitman, and the pitm an-d riving crank occupy the same positions as in the first example; but the board is provided with a plate G, having an oblique slot G through which the pitm an passes. As the pitman rises and falls in moving the butt-plate endwise, the obliquity of the slot causes it to swing the board laterally to and from the grain.

\Vhile it is preferred to suspend the buttplate at its upper edge from the overlying guide B the guide may be extended beneath the board, as in Fig. 18, the board being in such case arranged to reciprocate endwise and vibrate around the rod, as in the other examples. The crank and pitman connections may be identical with those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In some cases it may be desirable to vibrate the butt-board around the guide B without giving a longitudinal reciprocation or when it receives but a slight reciprocation.

This maybe effected by constructing the crank, as shown in Fig. 19, with its wrist extended across the line of the axis of rotation.

Butt-boards as comm only constructed have either smooth faces or vertical ribs thereon. In practice it is found that these boards do not firmly engage the butts of the straw, but that when the straw is limp or broken or badly lodged it will slip vertically and laterally out of place and fail to receive the full effect of the movement of the board. To overcome this difficulty I construct my board with a cellular pitted or reticulated surface, or, in other Words, with a surface presenting a multitude of small cavities to receive and retain the ends of the straw. This construction, which I have found highly advantageous in practice, is plainly shown in Fig. 10. Although I have here shown the cells of rectangular form, it is manifest that they may be of any equivalent form, their shape not being of the substance of the invention.

In order that the board may the more effectually engage the straw, and to prevent the rapid wearwhich occurs upon the face of the board, I propose to construct its active surface of india-rubber or equivalent elastic or yielding material. As shown in Fig. 10, the active surface of the board consists of the reticulated sheet of rubber II, which is applied against the face of the board or plate and removably secured by means of overlying end plates H, which are secured by other bolts, as shown.

I claim 1. In a grain-binding machine, a powerdriven butt-board the active face of whichis pitted or reticulated, substantially as shown, to receive and retain the ends of the straws.

2. In a grain-binding machine, a buttboard provided'witha facing of rubber or like yielding elastic material to act upon the ends of the grain-straws.

3. In a grain-binding machine, a rod or guideextending along the edge of the grain table or chute, in combination with a buttboard mounted at its ends upon and wholly sustained by said rod and movable in the direction of its length thereon.

at. In combination with a practicallystraight rod or guide, a butt-board mounted thereon at both ends, a crank, and a pitman connecting the crank and board, whereby the board may be reciprocated endwise in a line parallel with its face.

5. In a grain-binding machine, the combination, substantially as described and shown, of a sustaining rod or guide anda butt-board mounted longitudinally on said'rod and free to reciprocate endwise and also to vibrate transversely thereon.

6. In combination with the table or chute over which the grain is delivered laterally, the pivoted horizontally-adjustable guide, and the butt-board mounted at one edge on said guide to slide lengthwise thereof and the grain when moving endwise in a forward direction and caused to swing away fromthe grain during its end motion in the opposite direction.

8. In combination with the butt-board and the guide whereon it is movable longitudinally and laterally, its operating-pitman, and the driving-crank having the wrist adjustable, as described, so that it may be placed at a greater or less angle to the axis of rotation, whereby the lateral vibration of the board may be increased or diminished.

9. The combination of the butt board or plate D and its guide, the butt-retainin g plate 0 at its end, the driving-crank A, the pitman G, attached at one end to said crank, and the bearing E, connecting the pitman with the butt-board.

10. The combination of the guide-rod 13 the butt plate or board D,sliding and vibrating thereon, the butt-retaining plate C, the crank A and the connecting-pitman G, substantially as described, ll adjustable by means of a rod or lever under the control of the driver, as described, whereby they are made to operate and regulate the direction of movement of the grain.

11. In combination with a grain harvesting and binding machine, a round guide-rod I3 extending along the edge of the bindertable, the butt-board D, its ears or plates D, and the anti-friction rollers D journaled to said ears and mounted on top of the guide-rod, as shown, the board being free to move longitudinally and to vibrate laterally at its lower edge, as described.

12. In a grain-binding machine, and in combination with the grain table or chute, an arm B overhanging said table and pivoted to swing horizontally in combination with a lockiug device to hold said arm in difierent positions, a butt-board suspended from and guided at both ends by said rod to move longitudinally and vibrate laterally thereon, a crank lying outside of the plane of said board, and a pitman extending from the crank to the board.

13. In a grain-bindingmachine, a guide B adjustable horizontally to change its angle to the edge of the grain-table, the butt-board arranged to reciprocate longitudinally and vibrate laterally on said guide, the butt-retaining plate 0, hinged to the guide-rod, and the adj usting-bar G rigidly attached to said plate.

14. In a grain-binding machine, a guide 15 adjustable horizontally to change its angle to the edge of the grain-table, the butt-boardarranged to reciprocate longitudinally and vibrate laterally on said guide, and the butt retaining plate 0, hinged to the guide.

15. In a grain-binder, a butt'board having teeth D projected toward the grain-space to engage the butts of the grain, in combination. with a fixed guide Biwhereon the board may reciprocate in a line parallel with its face and also swing in a line at right angles to its face to and from the grain, and suitable mechanism for imparting said movements to the board.

16. In a grain-binding machine, the circulatory packers l) b and their actuating-crank, as usual, the reciprocating butt-board provided with teeth to engage the butts of the grain, the crank and pitman for operating the board, and intermediate mechanism, substantially as shown, connecting the two cranks and timed to compel the advance of the board and packers in unison, whereby the grain is subjected to the action of the packer and the butt-board simultaneously.

17. In a grain binding and harvesting machine, a longitudinally-reciprocating buttboard having a vertical row or series of teeth at its end to engage the butts of the grain and a circulating packer to act against the middle of the grain, in combination with operating mechanism, substantially as described, adjusted to cause the simultaneous advance of the butt-board and the packer.

18. In a grain-bindin g machine, abutt-board and a packer combined with operating mechanism whereby they are advanced simultaneously against the grain.

19. In combination with a grain-binding machine, a longitudinally-reciproeating buttboard the lower or forward end of which is provided with avertical row or series of teeth D whereby the end of the board is adapted to engage the end of the straws and prevent them from rising at the butts as they are forced laterally.

Vitnesses:

WILFRED TWINcI-I, F. C. PIERS.

JOHN F. STEVVAR'D. 

